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The Columbus Blue Jackets will try to cool off Boston Bruins star forward David Pastrnak when the two teams meet on Sunday. Pastrnak has been on a tear, recording 20 points during a 12-game point streak. The Bruins are 4-1-0 in their last five games and hold a three-point lead over Columbus for the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Blue Jackets are coming off a tough 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday and will be without forward Dmitri Voronkov, who suffered an upper-body injury.

Why it matters

This matchup between the Bruins and Blue Jackets is crucial in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. Both teams are fighting to secure a playoff spot, making this a high-stakes game with significant postseason implications. The Blue Jackets will need to find a way to slow down Pastrnak and the Bruins’ offense if they want to come away with a crucial two points.

The details

The Bruins (41-24-8, 90 points) are led by the red-hot Pastrnak, who has 20 points (7 goals, 13 assists) during his 12-game point streak. In their last game, a 6-3 win over the Minnesota Wild, Pastrnak recorded two assists. The Blue Jackets (38-24-11, 87 points) are coming off a tough 3-2 loss to the Sharks on Saturday, where they blew a 2-1 lead in the third period. Columbus forward Dmitri Voronkov left the game early in the second period with an upper-body injury and will not play on Sunday.

The Bruins and Blue Jackets first met on February 26, with Boston winning 4-2.The teams will face off again on April 12.

The players

David Pastrnak

A star forward for the Boston Bruins who is currently on a 12-game point streak, recording 20 points (7 goals, 13 assists) during that span.

Dmitri Voronkov

A forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets who suffered an upper-body injury in the team’s previous game and will not play on Sunday.

Igor Chernyshov

A Blue Jackets player who scored the game-tying goal with 1:25 left in the third period against the Sharks on Saturday.

Joonas Korpisalo

The Bruins’ probable starting goaltender, who has a 1-2-0 record with a 4.19 goals-against average and .872 save percentage in his career against Columbus.

Jet Greaves

The probable starting goaltender for the Blue Jackets, who has never faced the Bruins.

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What they’re saying

“Hopefully, we can use that momentum into (Sunday’s game). They’re right in the race, too. It’s a big matchup for both teams, and it’s exciting. That’s what makes this part of the year fun — being in that hunt. Every game feels like a playoff game, and that’s really exciting.”

— Andrew Peeke, Defenseman

“It was a complete 60-minute effort. Every line brought something to the table — could be a fight, could be a goal, whatever it is. Sway in net, outstanding again. That’s who we are, and that’s what I like the most.”

— Marco Sturm, Head Coach

“We just didn’t have our legs. What these guys have to learn is when you don’t have your legs, you try to simplify the game a little bit. And even though we didn’t have our legs, we’re still trying to make plays that just weren’t there.”

— Rick Bowness, Head Coach

“They’re (San Jose) fighting for their lives too, just as we are, so they were the better team tonight. They were on top of us. We didn’t really get many opportunities to be on the offensive side of those physical altercations.”

— Erik Gudbranson, Defenseman

What’s next

The Blue Jackets and Bruins will face off again on April 12, in what could be another crucial matchup in the Eastern Conference wild-card race.

The takeaway

This game between the Blue Jackets and Bruins is a key battle in the tight Eastern Conference playoff picture. Columbus will need to find a way to slow down Pastrnak and the Bruins’ high-powered offense if they want to keep pace in the wild-card race and secure a crucial two points.